The Old Way vs. The Makazi Way

Every September and January, the same scene plays out across Tanzania. Thousands of university students arrive in a new city — backpack on, HESLB money in their M-Pesa — and begin the exhausting search for a room.

The old way looks like this: you walk through neighborhoods, ask strangers if they know of any rooms, follow hand-painted "Chumba Kinapangishwa" signs down narrow paths, negotiate with landlords who may or may not be legitimate, and hope for the best.

It takes days. Sometimes weeks. And the result is often a compromise — a room that's too expensive, too far from campus, or too run-down.

Enter Makazi

Makazi was built for this exact problem. We are a verified rental marketplace where students can browse rooms near their campus, see real photos and real prices, and message landlords directly — no middlemen, no broker fees.

Here's what makes Makazi different:

Verified Landlords

Every landlord on Makazi is ID-verified. No fake listings. No scams. No "come see the room and then the price changes."

Proximity Search

Type your university name and Makazi shows you every available room within 2 kilometers. Sorted by distance, so the closest options appear first.

Real Prices

No bait-and-switch. The price on Makazi is the price you pay. We don't allow landlords to list a lower price and then charge more in person.

Direct Messaging

Talk to the landlord directly through Makazi. Ask your questions, schedule a visit, negotiate terms — all within the app.

Free for Students

Browsing, searching, and setting up alerts is completely free for students. You only pay when you choose to unlock a landlord's contact information.

What Students Say

"I found my room in Sinza in one afternoon on Makazi. Before, it took me a week of walking around. I wish I had known about Makazi in first year." — Grace, 3rd year UDSM

"The verification badge gave me confidence. I knew the landlord was real before I even visited." — Joseph, 2nd year DIT

Start Your Search

Whether you're a fresher arriving for the first time or a returning student looking for a better room, Makazi is the fastest, safest way to find student housing in Tanzania.

Browse listings near your campus today.